Stephen Hunt was taken something by surprise to see Steven Mouyokolo hobble into the Compton treatment room after injuring his ankle three weeks ago.

 

"What are you doing in here", was the gist of Hunt's message to the Wolves team-mate with whom he spent last season at Hull.

 

Because throughout the entire campaign at the KC Stadium, Mouyokolo was never injured once.

 

Rough luck then that within a couple of weeks after starting pre-season training at his new destination, the affable French-born defender found himself struck down with an ankle problem sustained in training.

 

"It has been frustrating because the other lads have had the three weeks training and playing games and I've been working away to get my fitness back," says Mouyokolo.

 

"But that's football.

 

"I wasn't injured at all at Hull last season so when I came in the treatment room Hunty was asking me what I was doing in there!

 

"It's even more frustrating when it happens when you've moved to a new club and want to have a really good pre-season."

 

There is however more positive news for Mouyokolo now after he returned to full training on Monday.

 

It has - as befits pre-season - proved something of an energetic few days, but it gives him a chance of featuring in one of the next few games.

 

With a Development friendly against Cheltenham tomorrow, and first team assignments at Leeds and Hearts on Saturday and Tuesday respectively, there are plenty of choices for Mouyokolo to possibly turn out for the first time in Wolves' colours.

 

"I was back in training on Monday and after being out for three weeks with the injury I was very happy to be back," he adds.

 

"And happy that I don't feel any pain in my ankle anymore.

 

"It's been hard and tough this week getting back out there but it's pre-season and I need to do the work.

 

"At one point this week I thought I was up against Real Madrid it was so fast but that's normal here when you come back from injury and need to get right.

 

"It's made me tired but it's good to be tired because it means I'm out there working and getting my fitness back.

 

"I'm ready to play in any of the games if the gaffer wants me to.

 

"They are friendly games and I need to get some minutes to build my fitness up.

"I need to be ready and training is good but you need to play games as well.

 

"I'll be happy to be travelling with the team and getting some games.

 

"The staff here are very good in helping you back when you have been injured.

 

 

"It's all done properly because as much as you want to get back you can't rush and take risks.

"It's about doing it gradually and just working as hard as you can to get your fitness back."

 

One thing Mouyokolo will be particularly pleased with should he get involved in some competitive action over the next few days will be to start to appreciate and understand the playing style of his team-mates.

 

While he has settled in well with his new team-mates helped by being included in the mini-tour of Ireland, he believes he will feel even more at home once he has turned out alongside them in a match.

 

"It's very important to be able to get to know my team-mates out on the pitch which was another frustrating part for me," he says.

 

"When you are on the sidelines you can't join in and help and although you're part of the squad you're passive.

"I think the friendship and understanding you have with team-mates always comes from training and from playing matches.

 

"It was good to go to Ireland with the squad but when you're injured it can be hard to really enjoy everything because it's on your mind."

 

Whether Mouyokolo hits peak fitness in time to be pushing for selection for the first game of the Barclays Premier League season against Stoke remains to be seen.

 

If not, he knows there's a long and gruelling season in store with which to try and make his mark.

 

"I've got just over two weeks to get myself ready," he confirmed.

 

"I'll be training as hard as I can to get my fitness back and doing what I can in the games.

"It will take as long as it takes to get back to full fitness whether that's one week, two weeks or three weeks.

 

"I am not concerned because there is a good staff here who know what to do and how to help me recover.

"It's a long season and so there's no point coming back too soon."